September 10, 2019 victims' families rally outside FAA headquarters, seeking accountability for the deaths of their loved ones. Photo: SBG
“This deal was done secretly and hastily at the close of the previous administration, so we're hoping that if the courts order the justice department to take a fresh look at the case and a fair-minded assessment of the evidence, that the results will be very different,” attorney Paul Cassell told us in July of 2023 – as families were appealing to a judge to nullify the agreement.It's called a "deferred prosecution agreement" or DPA.
If prosecutors find that to be true, they can extend the DPA, leaving the company open to criminal charges --- something victims’ families pushed hard for in Wednesday's meeting. Clifford said the families are frustrated with the Department of Justice's lack of transparency around its investigation and deal with Boeing to avoid prosecution.